Method and device for measuring the amount of a gas in a sealed liquid container

Abstract

A method for measuring an amount of a determined gas, particularly oxygen, in a sealed container of a liquid, such as a carbonated beverage, in which a gas mixture is dissolved, involves piercing the sealed container, releasing the gas mixture contained in the pierced container, measuring an amount of the determined gas in the released gas mixture, determining, based on the measuring, an initial amount of the determined gas in the sealed container, and injecting an anti-foam agent into the pierced container before and/or during the gas releasing step.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for measuring an amount of a determined gas in a sealed container containing a liquid in which a gas mixture is dissolved, comprising the steps of:
 piercing the sealed container; 
 releasing the gas mixture from the pierced container; 
 measuring an amount of the determined gas in the released gas mixture; 
 determining, based on said measuring, an initial amount of the determined gas in the sealed container; and 
 injecting an anti-foam agent into the pierced container before, during, or before and during the gas mixture releasing step, 
 wherein the injecting step comprises passing the anti-foam agent through a path provided within a piercing member for piercing the sealed container to an opening of said piercing member situated close to a piercing tip of said piercing member. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said anti-foam agent comprises a suspension of silica powder into a silicone oil/water emulsion. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the gas mixture releasing step comprises a first step comprising releasing the gas mixture from a headspace of the pierced container, the measuring step comprises a first step comprising measuring an amount of the determined gas in the gas mixture released from the headspace, and the determining step comprises a first step comprising determining, based on said measuring, an initial amount of the determined gas in said headspace. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the gas mixture releasing step comprises a second step, following the first step, comprising releasing the gas mixture dissolved in the liquid, the measuring step comprises a second step comprising measuring an amount of the determined gas in the gas mixture released during said first and second steps of the gas mixture releasing step, and the determining step comprises a second step comprising determining, based on said measuring, an initial total amount of the determined gas in the sealed container. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 4 , wherein to release the gas mixture from the liquid during said second step of the gas mixture releasing step, the liquid is subjected to vibrations. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the determined gas is oxygen. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid is a carbonated beverage. 
     
     
       8. A method for measuring an amount of a determined gas in a sealed container containing a liquid in which a gas mixture is dissolved, comprising the steps of:
 piercing the sealed container; 
 releasing the gas mixture from the pierced container; 
 measuring an amount of the determined gas in the released gas mixture; 
 determining, based on said measuring, an initial amount of the determined gas in the sealed container; and 
 injecting an anti-foam agent into the pierced container before, during, or before and during the gas mixture releasing step, 
 wherein the determining step comprises integrating over time the product of a measured flow rate of the released gas mixture and a measured partial pressure of the determined gas in the released gas mixture. 
 
     
     
       9. A method for measuring an amount of a determined gas in a sealed container containing a liquid in which a gas mixture is dissolved, comprising the steps of:
 piercing the sealed container; 
 releasing the gas mixture from the pierced container; 
 measuring an amount of the determined gas in the released gas mixture; 
 determining, based on said measuring, an initial amount of the determined gas in the sealed container; and 
 injecting an anti-foam agent into the pierced container before, during, or before and during the gas mixture releasing step, 
 wherein the gas mixture releasing step comprises a first step comprising releasing the gas mixture from a headspace of the pierced container and a second step, following the first step, comprising releasing the gas mixture dissolved in the liquid, 
 wherein the measuring step comprises a first step comprising measuring an amount of the determined gas in the gas mixture released from the headspace and a second step comprising measuring an amount of the determined gas in the gas mixture released during said first and second steps of the gas mixture releasing step, and 
 wherein the determining step comprises a first step comprising determining, based on said measuring, an initial amount of the determined gas in said headspace and a second step comprising determining, based on said measuring, an initial total amount of the determined gas in the sealed container, 
 wherein the second step of the determining step comprises integrating over time the product of a measured flow rate of the released gas mixture and a measured partial pressure of the determined gas in the released gas mixture. 
 
     
     
       10. A method for measuring an amount of a determined gas in a sealed container containing a liquid in which a gas mixture is dissolved, comprising the steps of:
 piercing the sealed container; 
 releasing the gas mixture from the pierced container; 
 measuring an amount of the determined gas in the released gas mixture; 
 determining, based on said measuring, an initial amount of the determined gas in the sealed container; and 
 injecting an anti-foam agent into the pierced container before, during, or before and during the gas mixture releasing step, 
 wherein the gas mixture releasing step comprises a first step comprising releasing the gas mixture from a headspace of the pierced container and a second step, following the first step, comprising releasing the gas mixture dissolved in the liquid, 
 wherein the measuring step comprises a first step comprising measuring an amount of the determined gas in the gas mixture released from the headspace and a second step comprising measuring an amount of the determined gas in the gas mixture released during said first and second steps of the gas mixture releasing step, and 
 wherein the determining step comprises a first step comprising determining, based on said measuring, an initial amount of the determined gas in said headspace and a second step comprising determining, based on said measuring, an initial total amount of the determined gas in the sealed container, 
 wherein between the first and second steps of the gas mixture releasing step the gas mixture release is interrupted for a determined time interval, the method further comprising the steps of obtaining a state of equilibrium between a liquid phase and a gaseous phase in the container in said time interval and determining an amount of another gas in the container by measuring an equilibrium temperature and an equilibrium total pressure in the container. 
 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the step of determining said amount of said other gas comprises performing a calculation which involves the measured equilibrium temperature, the measured equilibrium total pressure and a measured percentage of said other gas in the gas mixture released. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said other gas is carbon dioxide. 
     
     
       13. A method for measuring an amount of a determined gas in a sealed container containing a liquid in which a gas mixture is dissolved, comprising the steps of:
 piercing the sealed container; 
 releasing the gas mixture from the pierced container; 
 measuring an amount of the determined gas in the released gas mixture; 
 determining, based on said measuring, an initial amount of the determined gas in the sealed container; 
 injecting an anti-foam agent into the pierced container before, during, or before and during the gas mixture releasing step, 
 detecting when foam reaches a determined point in a gas releasing circuit connected to the pierced container; and 
 stopping the gas mixture release when said detection occurs. 
 
     
     
       14. A device for measuring an amount of a determined gas in a sealed container containing a liquid in which a gas mixture is dissolved, comprising:
 a piercing mechanism configured to pierce the sealed container; 
 a releasing mechanism configured to release the gas mixture from the pierced container; 
 a sensor configured to measure an amount of the determined gas in the released gas mixture; 
 means for determining, based on said measuring, an initial amount of the determined gas in the sealed container; and 
 an injecting mechanism configured to inject an anti-foam agent into the pierced container, 
 wherein said injecting mechanism comprises a first opening in the piercing mechanism; a second opening in the piercing mechanism, said second opening being closer to a piercing tip of said piercing mechanism than said first opening; a path connecting the first and second openings within the piercing mechanism; and a pump connected to the first opening for providing said anti-foam agent. 
 
     
     
       15. The device according to  claim 14 , wherein said determining means are in the form of a control unit which controls the gas mixture releasing means. 
     
     
       16. A device for measuring an amount of a determined gas in a sealed container containing a liquid in which a gas mixture is dissolved, comprising:
 a piercing mechanism configured to pierce the sealed container; 
 a releasing mechanism configured to release the gas mixture from the pierced container; 
 a sensor configured to measure an amount of the determined gas in the released gas mixture; 
 means for determining, based on said measuring, an initial amount of the determined gas in the sealed container; and 
 an injecting mechanism configured to inject an anti-foam agent into the pierced container, 
 wherein said determining means are in the form of a control unit which controls the gas mixture releasing mechanism, and 
 wherein the control unit is configured to perform a method for measuring an amount of a determined gas in a sealed container containing a liquid in which a gas mixture is dissolved, comprising the steps of: 
 piercing the sealed container; 
 releasing the gas mixture from the pierced container; 
 measuring an amount of the determined gas in the released gas mixture; 
 determining, based on said measuring, an initial amount of the determined gas in the sealed container; and 
 injecting an anti-foam agent into the pierced container before, during, or before and during the gas mixture releasing step, 
 wherein the determining step comprises integrating over time the product of a measured flow rate of the released gas mixture and a measured partial pressure of the determined gas in the released gas mixture. 
 
     
     
       17. A device for measuring an amount of a determined gas in a sealed container containing a liquid in which a gas mixture is dissolved, comprising:
 a piercing mechanism configured to pierce the sealed container; 
 a releasing mechanism configured to release the gas mixture from the pierced container; 
 a sensor configured to measure an amount of the determined gas in the released gas mixture; 
 means for determining, based on said measuring, an initial amount of the determined gas in the sealed container; and 
 an injecting mechanism configured to inject an anti-foam agent into the pierced container, 
 wherein said determining means are in the form of a control unit which controls the gas mixture releasing means; and 
 wherein said device further comprises means for detecting when foam reaches a determined point in said gas mixture releasing mechanism, said control unit being configured to stop the gas mixture release when said detection occurs. 
 
     
     
       18. A device for measuring an amount of a determined gas in a sealed container containing a liquid in which a gas mixture is dissolved, comprising:
 a piercing mechanism configured to pierce the sealed container; 
 a releasing mechanism configured to release the gas mixture from the pierced container; 
 a sensor configured to measure an amount of the determined gas in the released gas mixture; 
 means for determining, based on said measuring, an initial amount of the determined gas in the sealed container; and 
 an injecting mechanism configured to inject an anti-foam agent into the pierced container, 
 wherein said piercing mechanism comprises a piercing tip which has at least one radial protuberance for forming at least one gas path at a periphery of a hole pierced into the sealed container, permitting the gas mixture to get out of the pierced container despite the piercing means passing through the pierced hole. 
 
     
     
       19. A device according to  claim 18 , wherein a temperature sensor is provided within the piercing tip.